Montreal (AFP)
The WTA tournament in Montreal, originally scheduled between August 10 and 16, will finally not take place this year and will be postponed to 2021 due to the epidemic of new coronavirus, officials of the women's tennis circuit announced on Saturday.
The tournament has been threatened since the Quebec government's decision to suspend all sporting and cultural events until August 31 due to the risks associated with the Covid-19.
"Due to the measures imposed by the Quebec government (...), the Montreal Rogers Cup postpones its holding to 2021," said the WTA in a press release.
"The WTA reiterates once again that for them the health and safety of all remains the first priority. This decision was difficult to make, but we will come back to Montreal in 2021," she added.
The Canadian Masters 1000, contested in Toronto (Ontario) on the same dates, is not affected by this decision.
ATP and WTA suspended men's and women's tennis circuits until July 13 due to the new coronavirus pandemic. While the Wimbledon tournament was canceled, a first since the Second World War, that of Roland-Garros was postponed to September-October.
The WTA said on Saturday that "the women's circuit is still suspended until July 12. We continue to work with our partners and tournaments to determine when we can resume competitions."
"We do not expect to make any decisions by next month," she added.
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